Which is better: Cotton or Linen?

Cotton and Linen are arguably the most popular of all natural fibre materials. It’s also difficult to sometimes tell the difference between the two if you’re going on just looks. Only when you reach out to touch and feel each fabric will you notice the subtle yet obvious differences between Linen and Cotton.

We are definitely concerned about these differences because while both fabrics are useful and practical, they each have something unique to offer. And this should be of great importance to you especially when making a buying decision.

Hence the aim of this article is to educate you as much as possible on the unique qualities of these two well-known natural fabrics.

The main differences between two of nature’s best fabrics

Learning as much as you can about the benefits and possible drawbacks of both Cotton and Linen will help you identify which of the two will be more suitable to your personal needs and daily habits.

You will even realise that you have need of both types of natural materials but it will depend on specific contexts and areas of use. And this is what we’re going to explore, the distinctive features of Linen as well as Cotton. They each have something to offer and can be used in so many different ways.

Cotton vs Linen - Prices

Linen is no doubt more expensive than cotton. This is due to the longer more intense process used in creating Linen fabric. But you get what you pay for in terms of quality.

Cotton is generally very affordable and never hard to find because of higher yields and much lower production costs. In fact Cotton as a staple crop is produced in most countries and therefore makes up approximately 24% of all the fabrics manufactured worldwide.

Cotton vs Linen - Durability

Linen material offers superb durability due to the hard wearing nature and strength of its fibres. It is known to last for many years if taken care of properly, and in fact becomes more comfortable to wear as time goes on. Linen is often used as an accompaniment in creating various fabric blends mainly because of the durability it offers.

Cotton is comparatively quite durable but is harder to maintain. Years of washing and ironing on cotton eventually takes its toll resulting in reduced strength and consistency. It can still be argued that Cotton is more luxurious when new as compared to Linen, but quickly loses its charm making Linen the better investment long term.

Cotton vs Linen - Environment

Even though Linen takes more time to produce its impact during farming on the surrounding environment is impressively quite low – especially when compared to most other crops. For one thing the Linen plant does not need excessive amounts of water to grow. Yet another benefit is that it hardly needs pesticides to sustain. Very few chemicals are is used in the production phase of Linen fabric and the resulting waste products are quite minimal.

Cotton on the other hand has a slightly higher ecological footprint than Linen. It is particularly susceptible to damage by insects and therefore not so eco-friendly pesticides have to be used regularly to ensure successful harvests.

Cotton vs Linen - Allergies

Linen is the go to material for people who suffer from skin allergies. Being of natural sources, linen is famous for its gentleness on the skin and is completely hypoallergenic. Linen is superior to synthetic fabrics which are more likely to cause skin irritations or aggravate existing allergies. This makes it a good choice for bedding and all day wear.

Cotton also has hypoallergenic properties but many times the dyes and various chemicals used to treat the fabric robs it of this feature. So the more natural the cotton is kept the better it is at defending your skin against allergic reactions. But if the cotton is over treated it can cause issues for people with highly sensitive skin.

Cotton vs Linen - Appearance

Linen is well known for having a naturally textured feel and this gives it a sophisticated look. It is very trendy and elegant for its usage in a variety of clothing types. If looked after it retains its beauty for a long time.

Cotton is more pressed, flat and smooth, almost lacking any texture at all. This makes it ideal for certain types of garments where you want to produce a cleaner more simplified image.

Many textile manufacturers like to combine Cotton and Linen with other materials thereby generating a variety of fabrics which offer even more versatility.

Cotton vs Line - Texture

Linen is known to have a very rugged texture to begin with, but gradually softens and literally gets smoother with each consecutive wash. This natural softening gives Linen that unique long term appeal, and does not compromise on the durability of the fabric.

Cotton always has a lovely soft feeling and texture from the get go and this does not dissipate after several washes. But it is known to thin out over longer periods of time.

Cotton vs Linen - Moisture

Linen material is brilliant at absorbing moisture. It also has fantastic breathability compared to most other fabrics. These two qualities makes Linen the ideal choice for summer weather. Linen basically draws moisture away from the body leaving you feeling cool and dry.

Cotton is also quite breathable, but when it comes to moisture, it absorbs it but is certainly not as effective at releasing it. So even though cotton is known to be cool in warm weather, it may not be suitable for very humid conditions.

Cotton vs Linen – Which is the better Fashion Fabric?

Cotton is easy to work with making it very popular with clothing manufacturers. You will find no shortage of garments produced either entirely out of cotton material or blends which are made up mostly of cotton fibres. Most of the clothing that people regard as everyday wear is usually made of Cotton. Jeans, t-shirts and summer dresses are typically made out of cotton and are always reasonably priced. Cotton is also popular due to its softness and flexibility.

Linen is also great for a variety of clothing but you’ll also find it being deliberately used in making more exclusive high fashion items. Fancy shirts, pants and skirts are more stylish when made out of Linen. Compared to Cotton, Linen does wrinkle more easily, but this is precisely why some people prefer the more casual yet trendy appearance it naturally offers.

So between Cotton and Linen – Which do you prefer?

When choosing between Cotton and Linen materials make sure to recognise the different cleaning and maintenance requirements of each fabric. You will have already understood the distinctive appeal each fabric has to offer.

You should also take note of the excellent value, practicality and ease of use Cotton is famous for. Yet remember that there comes a time when you will have need of replacing your cotton based clothing.

Linen is pricier but features excellent durability as well as a different approach to style for the fashion conscious buyer. It requires a bit more care and attention to look after Linen, but the life time value makes it worth it.

So in the end it’s really up to you. Try both Cotton and Linen and see how they both have several benefits and experience them through a vast variety of products.